Okay. Take your Bible and we'll
find Matthew chapter 11 one more time. I'm entitling the message
from verse 28 and 29. The title of the message is very
obvious. Come to Christ and rest. Come
to the Lord Jesus Christ and rest. Matthew 11, 28. The blessed sovereign God, our
Savior, says to every heavy-laden, guilty, wretched sinner, to come
to Him and rest. I will give you rest. Rest is not something that's
earned, rest is something that the Lord sovereignly gives. Take my yoke upon you, learn
of Me. Learn of Me. All those who have
heard and learned of the Father, what are they doing? They're
coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, oh, to be taught of God. And
the Lord says that He is the meek and lowly one. Meek and
lowly in heart certainly doesn't mean that He's weak, does it?
Meekness is not weakness, He's the sovereign Christ. But he
is full of humility and power, and you shall find rest." Rest. Rest for the weary. Those who were burdened with
such guilt. The Lord says not once but twice,
come to Christ and rest. This is not talking about rest
for the body. I trust you rested well last
night. Bridget and I ask each other
this question every morning. How'd you sleep last night? Well,
you know, got a little bit of sleep. But this is not talking
about rest for the body. This is talking about rest for
our immortal soul. before God. This is talking about
sinners being justified by the grace of God through the blood
and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is sinners
ceasing from their own righteousness, their own labor, their own works
and deeds, and entering into that blessed salvation. That's
the rest we're talking about. that blessed eternal salvation
that purposed of God from all eternity purchased by the Lord
Jesus Christ and given as a gift of His grace unto His people. I'm interested in that kind of
rest, aren't you? Oh, to rest! to rest in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Our Lord in this chapter 11,
Matthew chapter 11, it is a blessed, blessed chapter. Our blessed
Redeemer declares unto us that He is the Christ of God. He instructs
those disciples sent from John in verse 4, He said to them,
you go back and you tell John again those things which you
hear and the things which you see. The blind received the sight. The Lord was no trickster. He
actually gave sight to the blind. The lame He made to walk, the
lepers He cleansed, the dead were raised up. Death made to
hear, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them. Is the Lord
Jesus Christ this one of Nazareth, this man Jesus from Nazareth,
from Galilee, is he the Christ? Absolutely. Is he the Messiah? Absolutely. Is he God's Christ,
God's Savior, God's Savior? Absolutely. Look at verse six.
Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended. Me the gospel
to the believer is not offensive. Is it? Oh, we love the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ He's plainly declaring that I am the
way the truth and the life. He's plainly declaring that he
is God I am God beside me. There is no other therefore He
said in Isaiah 45 look unto me and be saved all the ends of
the earth. I am God and there is none else no other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved, the Lord Jesus
Christ." There is no other Savior. And then the Lord declares also
in Matthew chapter 11, He declares unto us that He's a friend of
publicans and sinners. Aren't you glad? They say of
John the Baptist that he came neither eating nor drinking,
and they say, well then he has a devil. You see, you can never
satisfy the religious man. He's going to find some fault,
some reason to get angry. The Son of Man came eating and
drinking, and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, a wine-bibber,
a friend of publicans and sinners. Ah, wisdom justified of her children. Remember what the Pharisees said? Turn over here to Matthew 9.
When the Lord Jesus Christ called Matthew the publican to follow
Him, to follow Him, Verse 10, Matthew 9, and it came
to pass that Jesus said to me to the house, the house of a
sinner, notorious sinner, a tax collector. Many publicans and
sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples and when
the Pharisees saw it, you remember who the Pharisees were, don't
you? The self-righteous people. They said unto his disciples,
why eateth your master with publicans and sinners? But when they heard,
but when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, they that behold,
don't need a physician, those who are sick, they need the doctor. Go ye, learn what that means.
What meaning? I will have mercy, not sacrifice.
I'm not come to call the righteous, but sinners, sinners. repentance
the Lord Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the law you
remember what the Apostle said this is a faithful saying worthy
of all acceptation that the Lord Jesus Christ came to save came
to save sinners I'm the chief one Oh wretched man that I am
aren't you glad that he's a friend of publicans and sinners And then the Lord also declares
unto them in this chapter, judgment's coming. He said that in verse
23. Verse 22, the day of judgment,
the day of judgment. And again, down to verse 24,
judgment's coming. What happens after death? Judgment.
You're going to meet the judge. He's the judge of all the earth.
The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Lord Jesus
Christ. You are answerable to Him. Judgment is coming. pointed at
him, he wanted to die, and after that, judgment, judgment, judgment. But he also declares unto these
folks, and unto us in this chapter, that the Lord is sovereign in
salvation, that he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. Verse 26, even so, Father, for
so it seemed good in thy sight. Sovereign, sovereign mercy in
the Lord Jesus Christ. He will have mercy on whom He
will, on whom He will have mercy. Now, what do I mean when I say
that the Lord is sovereign in salvation? What does the Lord
mean here when He said, No man knoweth the Father but the Son,
and no man knoweth the Son but to whom the Father will reveal
Him. Salvation by the revelation of
God. What do I mean when I say the Lord is sovereign in salvation? You ever think about that? I
say that all the time, God's sovereign in salvation. What
does that mean? What am I trying to say? I'm
trying to say that salvation is determined by God, dependent
upon God, and accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ, and salvation
is His choice. He makes the choice. He said,
you didn't choose me, I've chosen you. And the Lord is sovereign
in the application of salvation. God who has begun a good work
in you, he will get it done. He will have mercy on whom he
will have mercy. In Romans 9, he said, it's not
of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but it's God that
shows mercy. James 1 says, if his own will
beget he us with the word of truth. Our blessed Lord is a
sovereign creator of all things, right? Created all things by
the word of His power. Colossians chapter 1 verse 16
and 17 tells us that. All things were created by Him
and for Him and by Him all things. You know this universe has an
exact order. Exact order. Have you ever noticed
that? I mean, did it just happen? Somebody's in charge of creation. All things are held together
by Him, the Sovereign. He's sovereign in creation. He
sustains it, creates it. Our God is sovereign in providence,
the things that unfold in time. He is the first cause and last
end of all things. Mark it down, all things, all
things work together for good. He's working all things after
the counsel of His own will. Our God and our Redeemer is also
sovereign in creation, sovereign in providence, but He's also
most sovereign in salvation. God had blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenlies in Christ, according as He had chosen
us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be in Him, accepted, predestinated, and accepted in the Beloved,
in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Now look at Matthew 11 verse
25. At that time, the Lord Jesus
answered and said, Man, that's not fair. Man, that's not right. I thought every sinner had a
shot at this thing. No, he said, Father, I thank
Thee. That's how we pray unto our Father. Our Father which
art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Father, I thank Thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, because Thou hast hid
these things, wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes."
He is thanking the Father for that eternal election of grace. Whenever you find the doctrine
of election in Scripture, you know what you find? Right near
to it, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving. Let me show you.
Find 2 Thessalonians 2.13. Oh, thank God He chose somebody
unto salvation or nobody would be saved. We're so wicked and
so defiled and so guilty, so dead in sin. Had He not chosen
us, had He not loved us, we never would have believed the Gospel.
Don't we thank God? 2 Thessalonians 2. Verse 13,
but we are bound to give thanks always to God. What did the Lord
Jesus Christ say here? Father, I thank Thee. I thank
Thee. We are bound to give thanks always
to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification
of the Spirit and belief of the truth. were unto he called you
by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ." Our Lord is sovereign in salvation and he thanks God
for it and his people do as well. Turn to John 17. When the Lord
prayed again in John chapter 17 and when he prays for us,
that's recorded here in John chapter 17, he says the same
thing. John 17 verse 1, Father, the
hour has come. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son
also may glorify Thee, as Thou hast given Him power over all
flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as the Father
hath given to Him. And this is life eternal, that
they might know Thee, the only true God, Jesus Christ, whom
Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the
earth. I have finished the work You
gave me to do. And now, O Father, Glorify thou
me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee
before the world was. He is the eternal Savior. He is our eternal surety and
mediator. Now, I want you to find another
scripture where the Lord rejoices in God's sovereign electing love. Turn to Luke chapter 10. Luke chapter 10. The Lord Jesus Christ, in Luke
10, 17, turn there, let's read this together. The Lord Jesus
Christ had just commissioned these 70 men and sent them out
to preach the gospel. When they returned, they returned
again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto
us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld
Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I've given unto
you power to tread on serpent and scorpion over all power of
the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding,
don't rejoice in that. that the spirits, evil spirits,
are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are
written in heaven." Oh, you see, whenever you find the doctrine
of election, you find the doctrine and the truth of praising God. Bless God who has blessed us.
In that hour, verse 21, Luke 10, In that hour, the Lord Jesus
rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, thou hast hid these things from the wise
and prudent, revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so
it seemed good in your sight." Why did he have mercy on some
and pass by others? There's the answer. Right there's
the answer. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good, it seemed good in your sight." Now, turn back to Matthew
11, verse 25. I thank thee, O Father, Lord
of heaven and earth. You've hid these things from
the wise and prudent and have revealed them unto faith. The Lord Jesus Christ thanks
the Father that the gospel is hid from some and revealed to
others. Hidden from the wise and prudent
or those who are mentally wise they think, educated, wise and
prudent, the word prudent has to do with knowledge, those who
think they are so wise they need no Savior, while the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed to babes. Now, if you look at
an infant child, that infant child is totally dependent upon
mama and daddy. I mean, that infant child, you
put him out in the parking lot and say, well, just fend for
yourself. Cast him out in the backyard and say, well, just
do the best you can. He's going to die. He's totally
dependent upon somebody to take care of him. And the Lord Jesus
Christ has revealed the gospel unto those who are totally dependent
upon Him for life, salvation, forgiveness of sin. Totally dependent
upon Him. The gospel is revealed to weak,
frail sinners, helpless, dependent babies, helpless, defenseless,
impotent of themselves to do or say anything spiritually good,
bankrupt, beggar, dead in sin. Is that plain enough? Graveyard
dead. Is that plain enough? You see,
we're totally dependent upon Him taking care of us. Of Him
revealing Himself unto us. You see, the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ is a mystery. Notice the word there, hid from
some, revealed to others. The gospel comes by revelation.
The gospel is a mystery. We'll never understand the mysteries
of the gospel until God gives us eyes to see Him. Look what it says over here,
just a few pages. Matthew 16, turn over there. Matthew 16. Matthew 16, look at verse 13.
Matthew 16, 13, when Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi,
He asked His disciples, well, whom do men say that I, the Son
of Man, am? And they said, some, that thou
art John the Baptist. John had been beheaded. Some
thought that the Lord Jesus was John come back to life. some
that you're Elijah the prophet or Jeremiah or one of the other
prophets. And then he said to Peter and
to those apostles, but whom say ye that I am? Peter answered
and said, Thou art the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living
God. And the Lord answered him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona,
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. You see, the gospel comes by
revelation. I'll show you another scripture
on that if you'll find Galatians chapter 1. You remember old Saul
of Tarsus hated Christ, hated those who called on the name
of Christ, until he met the Lord Jesus Christ. And then he says
this, you see old Saul of Tarsus had a revelation that came by
the sovereign will and purpose of God. In Galatians chapter
1, he reminds us the Apostle says in verse 14, I profited
in the Jews religion above many my equals, my own nation, being
more exceeding zealous of the tradition of my fathers. But
when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, called
me by His grace to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach
Him among the heathen. Immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood." You see, the gospel comes by revelation. It's a revelation of God unto
our heart. Now look back at Matthew 11 one
more time. It's a revelation of the glory
of God that shines in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. Has
to be this way, because the carnal mind receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God. Even so, Father, now look at
verse 26. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good. God is good. He is all good. Even so, Father, it seemed good
in your presence, in your sight. It seemed good. So why is salvation
revealed to some and hidden from others? Well, some are wiser
than others. Some are smarter. Some are richer
than others. No. Why is salvation received,
revealed to some, received by some, and rejected by others,
revealed to some and hidden from others? Right there is the answer. Even so, Father, It seemed good
to you to do so. This reason satisfies every believer. It pleased the Lord. Whatsoever
pleased the Lord, that's what he did in heaven, earth, seas,
and all deep places. Who made you to differ from another?
His grace made us to differ from another. Turn to 1 Corinthians
1. We had this last week, but let's
look at it again. 1 Corinthians 1. You remember? Verse 23. Verse 22 says the Jews
require a sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ
crucified under the Jews, the stumbling block, under the Greeks,
foolishness, but under them which are called both Jews and Greek,
Christ, the power of God, Christ, the wisdom of God, that come
by sovereign revelation, sovereign providence, sovereign grace,
sovereign power, sovereign will, it's the will of God. Look at
verse 27. Matthew 11 27 all things all
things now underscore those two words all things the father had
given the son power over all things all things are delivered
unto me of my father and no man knoweth the son but the father
neither knoweth any man the father save the son and he to whomsoever
the son will reveal him now repetitions good if it's true And the Lord repeats Himself
on purpose in explaining or declaring, even so, Father, for it seemed
good in Thy sight. Again, the Lord puts the emphasis
and promise of salvation upon the sovereign revelation of God.
Notice He says, all things are delivered unto Me as Christ the
Mediator. The Mediator is surety of the
everlasting covenant. Now understand, as God, All things
always have been in His hand. But as the God-man mediator in
His role as the Messiah, the Savior, all things are given
of the Father into His hand in the accomplishment of salvation
for us. He accomplished salvation for
us. All power, he says, is given
unto me in heaven and earth. We read in Matthew, or rather,
in John chapter 3, where the Lord says, it says of the Lord
that all things, the Father loveth the Son, and has given all things
into His hand. Now as God, He has all things,
but as mediator, all things are given unto Him. in that everlasting
covenant of grace. That is to accomplish all things
to accomplish, all things in salvation, all things in grace,
all the promises of everlasting covenant are given unto the hand
of the Lord Jesus Christ to accomplish. How many times have we read in
the book of John where it says that he finished the work the
Father gave him to do. The work of redemption given
into his hand. The work of righteousness given
unto His hand. The work of justifying sinners
is given unto His. All things in salvation are put
in the hands of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the
one with whom we have to do. All glory, all happiness, all
things are put into His hand. Now, no man naturally knows and
understands this great and glorious mystery of the Gospel. Who God
is and who the Son is. How about this mystery? The God-Man
Mediator. How about this mystery? God manifest
in the flesh. Without controversy, great is
the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. This is a great mystery. No man
naturally understands and knows the glorious mysteries of the
Gospel. Who God is. Who the Lord Jesus Christ is.
What the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished. It has to come by revelation. Whomsoever the Son will reveal
the Father. The Father. Now look at verse
28. Matthew 11, verse 28. Now, the
Lord Jesus Christ declares unto His people whom the Lord has
revealed Himself unto by His sovereign revelation. Now, you
have to read the preceding verses. as to what the Lord Jesus, who
He is telling to come unto Him. Those who have had the sovereign
revelation of Christ unto their heart from God the Father, all
those who have heard and learned of the Father, they come to Me. The Lord Jesus Christ said, come
unto Me. And I will give you rest. I will
give you rest. Now, what an encouragement the
Lord gives to every broken down, vile, wretched, guilty sinner. Oh, everyone that's thirsty,
come to the fountain and drink. You who are hungry, come to Christ
the Bread of Life. He says, the Lord Jesus Christ
says, come to Him for all of salvation, for salvation is revealed
in Him. Now listen to this. He does not
say, come to the front of the church. A lot of folks are saying,
come down front. Salvation is not down here. Salvation
is in Christ. A lot of folks say, well, come
to the mourner's bench. Salvation is not in the mourner's bench.
A lot of people say, well, come to the church. Salvation is not
in the church. A lot of people say, well, come
to the priest. Come forward and receive salvation from the priest.
Salvation is not in the priest. Salvation is not in coming forward.
Some say, well, come to the confessional booth and we'll forgive all your
sin. Wow! Salvation is not in the confessional
booth. Salvation is not even in a doctoral position. Salvation
than a person the Lord said notice come unto me Not down front not
to the church not to the tradition the Lord said come to me if you
had a river if God in his sovereign mercy has given you a revelation
of salvation in Christ You know what you're doing. You're coming
you're coming you're coming to the Lord Jesus Christ come to
him and Now this coming to Christ is coming to Christ without moving
a muscle. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ
and don't move a hand or a hair. Can you do that? Can you come
to the Lord Jesus Christ and not move a muscle? Absolutely. You know why? Because we come
to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. Faith is a gift of God. Faith
is a gift of God. We only and continually come
to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith in Him. Coming unto me is the
same as believing Christ. Remember what we read? Turn back
to John chapter 6 and John chapter 5. John chapter 5 verse 24, Coming to the Lord
Jesus Christ and believing on Him is saying the same thing. John 5 verse 24, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him
that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." Now, John chapter
6, verse 35. I am the bread of life, he that
cometh to me. shall never hunger, he that believeth
on me shall never thirst." Coming to Christ and believing on the
Lord Jesus Christ is the same thing. Come to the Lord Jesus
Christ alone. Now let me give you an example,
a couple of examples of this. The Lord Jesus Christ has never
turned away a mercy beggar. Turn back to the book of Matthew,
chapter 8, verse 1. come to Christ is to submit to
salvation on His terms. Believing Christ and trusting
Christ is to come to Him on His terms. It's submitting to salvation
on His terms. Now, here it is. Matthew chapter
8 verse 1, you remember the leper when he was come down from the
mountain that is the Lord Jesus Christ great multitudes followed
him and behold there came a leper and worshipped him saying Lord
if thou wilt You can make me clean. He submitted to His Lordship,
His sovereignty. Lord, it's all in Your hand.
He came to Him as Lord, submitted to Him as Lord, and the Lord
Jesus Christ put forth His hand and touched Him and saying, I
will be Thou clean. Blind Bartimaeus, the son of
Timaeus, sat by the wayside begging, and he cried out, Thou son of
David, Lord, have mercy on me. And the Lord healed him, gave
him sight to see. You cannot read of a sinner in
God's book who came to the Lord Jesus Christ in need, was ever
turned away. He dealt with every one of them
in mercy. This coming to the Lord Jesus
Christ is the same as looking to Him. He says, look unto Me,
look unto Me, and be ye saved. The Lord Jesus Christ, He is
ascended up on high. He is given He has given salvation
unto sinners by His sovereign grace, and He tells us, looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. You
see, coming to Him, trusting Him, relying upon Him, and looking
unto Him are all saying the same things. trusting Christ, relying
upon Him. Now this coming to Christ, trusting
Him, looking unto Him, is not an isolated one-time act. Faith
is always coming to the Lord Jesus Christ. Always coming to
Him. We read this morning in 1 Peter
chapter 2, to whom coming, to whom coming, as unto a living
stone. Now, look at the blessed promise
God gives to those who believe the gospel, look to Christ, trust
Him, rely upon Him, and believe Him. He said, I will give you
rest. Rest. Rest for your soul. This promise of grace the Lord
gives to those who are blessed with faith to come to Christ,
to those who are given grace to trust Him for all salvation,
is rest. Rest. I will give you rest."
Notice it's not something that's earned, merited, it's the gift
of God. Spiritual rest he's talking about
peace of conscience ease of mind calmness of soul through the
application of God's pardoning grace free justification by his
righteousness full atonement for all of our sin by the blood
of Christ Eternal life giving given unto us through the Lord
Jesus Christ laying down his life for us. I will give you
rest for your soul Look at verse 29. Now take my yoke. Come to me, I'll give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me, all those who have
heard and learned of the Father. You know what they do? They come
to Christ. They come to Christ. For I am meek, I'm lowly in heart,
and you shall find, you shall find rest, rest unto your soul. You see, the more we learn of
Christ, the more we rely and trust Him for all salvation. The more you know of Him, the
more you learn of Him, the more revelation you have of Him, it
causes you to totally commit everything to Christ in the accomplishment
of salvation and it causes you to rest in Him. Oh, I'm so thrilled
with resting in Christ. My Savior, my righteousness,
my redemption. The more we know of Him, the
more we rest in Him. And the more we rest in Him,
the more we say of the Apostle Paul, I count everything else
lost, done, ruined, that I may win Christ and be found in Him. You know what the Apostle Paul
was doing? Resting. coming, looking, trusting the
Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, my prayer for us this morning.
May God give us grace to believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ and to rest in Him. He that hath the Son hath life. We read this in Acts 13, Be it
known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this
man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sin, and by him
all that believe are justified from all things which you could
not be justified by the law of Moses. Let's close by reading
this scripture in the last chapter in the Bible. Revelation 22,
turn there and look at this. With me the lord jesus christ
said come to him and rest come to him and rest don't come to
me I need i'm a sinner just like you i'm looking to christ i point
you to him Come to christ and rest in revelation 22 Verse 16,
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify unto you these things
in the churches. I am the root and the offspring
of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Bride and Morning
Star, and the Spirit, God the Holy Spirit, and the Bride, that's
the redeemed Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. What do they say?
They repeat what He said. You see, preaching is repeating
what He said. The Spirit and the Bride, the
Church of Christ, they say, Come! That is, come to the Lord Jesus
Christ. And let him that heareth say, Come to Christ! And let him that is thirsty,
Come! Come to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And whosoever will, I like that word, whosoever. I'm a whosoever. Made willing in the day of His
power. Whosoever will, let him take
of the water of life. Really! Come to Christ and rest. Come to Christ. Those who have
had the gospel revealed to their heart, you know what they're
doing? They're coming, they're taking, they're drinking, they're
eating, they're resting in the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give
us grace to do that now and forever.